Chapter 17: Day 0 as a Temporary Professor

My interrogation ended with a single question.

There were countless rumors that the Holy Nation’s interrogations were long, complicated, and sometimes even cruel—so this felt disappointingly anticlimactic.

It must have wrapped up so quickly because it was Lucia handling it.

It didn’t feel like a real interrogation; rather, as if it had been cut short for the sake of something more important.

***

“The aroma of this black tea is lovely.”

“Thank you. Would you like some more?”

“I’ll pass. If I drink too much just because it’s tasty, I might accidentally burst into holy water without realizing it!”

“L-Lady Saint!”

“Erin, you’re a holy knight of the Church! You shouldn’t raise your voice like that in front of an honored guest!

“I’m sorry. I’ll apologize on her behalf.”

“Y-You…!”

Lucia’s lighthearted behavior made it hard to believe she was a devout saint.

I could feel Erin’s strong urge to call her out for it.

But instead, she got hit with a counterattack and could only groan with a sour expression, like she’d just bitten into something awful.

At this point, I’d believe it if someone told me Lucia was a trickster, not a saint.

“Ubbububu!”

“By the way, what’s going on with that person over there? Is she sick or something?”

“If you’re talking about her, you don’t need to worry. Just pretend she’s invisible.”

‘Honestly, I think that’s what she wants, too.’

Miriam was silently opening and closing her mouth like a fish, completely mute.

She had been like that ever since Lucia arrived.

She must have assumed that any slip-up could get her dragged back to the Church and executed on the spot.

Of course, knowing Lucia’s personality, that would never happen.

‘Still, even in a panic, she’s managing to take out her orb and keep recording…’

Her professional dedication was impressive, at the very least.

***

“Anyway, since the interrogation is over, I assume you’re still here because you have some other reason for visiting?”

“Yes, exactly!”

“You’re interested in me because I cured magical corrosion, correct?”

“You’re not wrong.”

“If you came here hoping to learn how I did it, then I’m afraid I’ll have to apologize in advance. With all due respect, the method I used wouldn’t suit a saint like you who relies primarily on divine power.”

“Oh really? That’s good to hear. I wasn’t interested in the method anyway, so now I won’t feel bad about not knowing it.”

Lucia stretched out her arms in front of her, fingers interlocked, and let out a satisfying sigh.

With a carefree smile, she spoke with complete sincerity—as if she truly didn’t care about the treatment method at all.

“I came to see you because I have a more fundamental goal in mind.”

“A fundamental goal? And what would that be?”

“Let me put it simply. You know people are calling your treatment a miracle, right?”

“I do.”

“That miracle was something you achieved through your own effort. But many people are under the illusion that it happened because God showed you special favor. They think it’s divine intervention, when in reality, miracles are made—not granted.”

I found myself nodding.

It was a compelling perspective.

In this world, we talk about success and failure, and in a sense, success is a kind of miracle.

But miracles don’t happen for people who never even try.

It’s only those who take action, who make the effort, that get to experience them.

“I believe miracles are given to those who work for them. But the people of the Church think they’re something fated by God, which is the complete opposite of how I see it.”

“That must be frustrating for you.”

“It is. That’s why I decided to enroll in Wellton Academy. At least here, the students aren’t just sitting around waiting for miracles—they’re actively trying to make them happen.”

I could see now why Lucia was chosen as the Saint.

Despite being a servant of God, she didn’t blindly rely on divine grace.

She had the will to forge her own path.

God doesn’t just favor those who follow blindly.

He favors those who pair faith with conviction.

That must be why Lucia was granted holy power befitting a Saint.

***

“I wanted to expand my horizons here at the Academy, try different things, and one day, create a miracle with my own hands. After that, I planned to return to the Church with confidence and share my beliefs with the people.”

“That’s a noble dream.”

“But you know what’s surprising? I recently heard that someone else has already achieved the very dream I was working toward!”

“Umm… Are you talking about me?”

Lucia didn’t answer.

She just kept smiling sweetly, which was basically the same as saying yes.

“If I study under someone I see as my role model, maybe one day I’ll be able to achieve my dream too, don’t you think?”

“…W-Wait a second. Are you saying the chairman appointed me as a temporary professor… because of you?”

“Oh right! Starting tomorrow, you’re a professor, aren’t you? Even if I’m a saint, I’m still a student, so you don’t need to speak so formally to me!”

That confirmed it.

The person who made me a temporary professor… was Lucia.

You could tell just from her natural attitude—she instinctively treated me like a full professor.

Even though I was just a temporary one.

“Still, asking a Saint to show deference to a mere temp? That’s ridiculous.”

“Even if I’m temporary, I’m still a professor, am I not?”

“You must never speak like that inside the academy. Imagine how hurt the full professors would be if they heard you.”

At the academy, temporary professors were treated like glorified jesters—essentially scapegoats.

Even if the students cursed at them, there was no room to protest.

And given that Wellton Academy was one of the most prestigious in the world, I could only imagine how much worse things were for temps here.

In short, Lucia had just thrown me into a job more grueling than graveyard management.

Still, since she was a newly admitted Saint, there was no way she could have known how temp professors were treated.

She clearly hadn’t meant any harm.

“Did I… do something unnecessary?”

“To be perfectly honest, yes. I’m not sure if you’re aware, but I’ve been granted the honor of taking Lady Muthertz, daughter of the Hero’s lineage, as my disciple. Even so, despite being the mentor of the next Hero, I’ve chosen to remain a humble gravekeeper rather than a professor. There’s a reason for that.”

Not everyone with talent becomes a professor.

It’s about more than just knowledge—you must be able to pass it on, to inspire new paths, and awaken potential in others.

In short, teaching others is a completely different skill set.

“I’m sorry. I was so eager to learn that I didn’t think about the finer details. I ended up causing trouble for you, Saint.”

Lucia let out a quiet sigh, her voice heavy with sincerity.

Lifting her chin, she looked me straight in the eyes and offered a steady, unwavering apology.

She was showing me what a genuine apology looked like.

‘It was the kind of apology where, if I didn’t accept it, I’d feel like I was the jerk.’

“It’s fine. You didn’t mean any harm.”

“Though I appreciate your generosity, I still feel the need to confess my foolish actions. And I think it’s only right that I offer clear compensation for the trouble I caused you, Saint.”

“Alright, fair enough.”

‘In the Holy Nation, there was a doctrine that high-ranking clergy should not be attached to material possessions.’

‘So even if she spoke of compensation, it wouldn’t involve money—just something like a blessing. That wasn’t a bad deal.’

“Then I’ll take one of your blessings—just something simple that you think is appropriate.”

“No! That’s nowhere near enough.”

“Okay, then how about two blessings—”

“You mentioned that this incident could affect your reputation, so proper restitution must include the restoration of your honor. I’ll become your disciple and follow you for the rest of my life!”

‘Wait—what?!’

‘No! That’s absolutely not what I want!’

‘What I need is to be left alone, not honor!’

A choking sense of panic rushed over me, and I tried to stop Lucia immediately.

But Erin had already stepped behind me and was pressing down hard on my shoulders, keeping me from getting up.

That’s when it hit me.

That heartfelt apology was just the setup for the real payoff—an elaborate build-up to this moment.

***

“I, Lucia von Floria, hereby vow to live without shame as the disciple of Saint Tao.”

Lucia knelt before me, eyes closed and hands clasped in prayer.

She even drew a holy cross in the air, as if making a sacred vow before the gods.

There was no going back now.

I caught the subtle upward curl of Lucia’s lips—and my vision started spinning.

This had clearly been premeditated.

***

“Kyaa!”

Miriam, now back to her senses, began capturing the scene with her crystal recorder, furiously scribbling notes into her journal.

As soon as I saw her, I could already imagine tomorrow’s academy paper headline flashing in my mind:

[From Hero to Saint—Wellton’s Most Enchanting Man! Exclusive Interview Revealed!]

So much for staying under the radar.

At this rate, I was on track to become the most popular man in all of Wellton Academy.

“This place is amazing! It’s like scooping up one exclusive after another!”